Ukraine declares it will not withdraw from Bakhmut.

The Ukrainian president's office said that senior military commanders had agreed to hold Bakhmut (called Artyomovsk by Russia) – a strategically important city in the Donbass region – after German media reported that Kyiv's top general had encouraged a troop withdrawal.

Photo: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine

On March 6, President Volodymyr Zelensky held a scheduled meeting with senior government officials responsible for the military in the conflict with Russia.

“The President asked the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valery Zaluzhny (and another senior commander) about the next course of action in the Bakhmut direction. They supported continuing the defense and further strengthening our positions in the city,” the Ukrainian President’s Office said in a statement.

Earlier that day, the German newspaper Bild reported that President Zelensky and General Zaluzhny disagreed on the best course of action in the besieged city. The newspaper, citing sources within the Ukrainian government, said the general had advised the president to withdraw troops several weeks prior, but the suggestion had been rejected.

Bakhmut lies on a crucial supply route for Ukraine. If Moscow gains control of this city, it will cut off Ukraine's last remaining supply line there and allow them to expand their offensive to other cities in Donetsk still held by Ukraine.

On March 2, Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner Private Military Company, declared that the city was “effectively completely surrounded” and called on President Zelensky to order the Ukrainian army to evacuate.

Hoang Pham